“In response to growing demand, the biggest hardware vendors are
starting to offer their own support for Linux and some are even
preinstalling the OS on their machines.”
“Dell’s commitment to bundle Linux across its entire PowerEdge
server line, announced Monday, has upped the ante in the challenge
against the dominant NT. But Dell’s move is but the most recent
among major server and desktop developers like IBM and Compaq, who
in the past year have ramped up their Linux offerings in response
to a growing number of the OS’s acolytes. According to IDC,
the entire Linux market will grow at a compounded annual rate of 25
percent through 2003. It appears that vendors have more to lose
than free software if they bypass the expanding market.”
“We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the major hardware
vendors, who, like Dell, are presenting Linux-related alternatives
to the dominant OS.”